The official lodge of the Deputy Governor of Imo state located within the commissioners quarters in New Owerrri was yesterday afternoon Thursday, January 18, 2018, gutted by a mysterious fire which burnt government buildings and properties estimated at several millions of naira.
The inferno suspected to have started from a nearby bush was reported to have burnt down the building, housing the waiting room and other essential valuables including vehicles one of which is the bus with the inscription “government house press crew”.
According to the Deputy Governor’s CPs, Hon Uche Onwuchekwa, greater damage could have been recorded but for the quick intervention of security attachees to the lodge who were later joined by men of the state fire service brigade to put off the ravaging inferno.
“The state Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere who was away at the time of the inferno called for further investigation to determine the remote and immediate cause of the fire disaster in order to forestall future occurrence.
He expressed regret at the ugly incident but was also grateful to God that no life was lost during the inferno”.
Meanwhile the newly appointed Imo state commissioner for safety, Prince Chidi Nwaturuocha, has claimed credit for mobilizing men of the fire service Owerri for put off the fire before the entire building could be engulfed by the inferno.
Only yesterday, the Nwaturuocha was at the scene of another fire incident which was timely averted at Ibari Ogwa events centre, Owerri while the Deputy Governor and Ibari Ogwa were lucky that the raging fire outbreak was aborted prematurely the Cee Gee filing station in Owerri was not because the wild fire just like it blazed through California bush, gutted every visible property and vehicle at site.
